August 2009
Results of Scoping for Amendment 4 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP)
Highly Migratory SpeciesManagement DivisionNMFS/NOAA
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Presentation Objectives
Purpose: Provide an overview of what NMFS heard during scoping for Amendment 4 and to discuss the next steps
This presentation will give you:
An overview of why NMFS is pursuing a Caribbean-focused amendment
An overview of the issues NMFS may potentially address in Amendment 4
An overview of the comments NMFS received during scoping
Update on future steps and timeline for Amendment 4
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The Amendment Process
Purpose: NMFS is considering changes to some of the regulations in the Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP that would be applicable to the Caribbean region
These changes will be done through an amendment NMFS started the process with scoping Findings from the scoping process will be summarized in a
Predraft NMFS develops a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and
proposed rule based on the issues summarized in the Predraft. The public then comments on the draft EIS and proposed rule.
NMFS addresses and considers the public’s comments and designates the preferred management measures in a final EIS and implements those measures in the final rule.
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Need for Action
NMFS believes that interest in HMS resources is increasing in the U.S. Caribbean. This may be due to depletion of shelf resources.
However, NMFS recognizes that many HMS regulations established for the continental United States do not well fit the Caribbean region
NMFS is developing an amendment to address the issues that are unique to the Caribbean, such as improving permitting compliance and data collection and enhancing enforcement of regulations
Such changes are needed to ensure compliance with U.S. regulations and that the United States is in compliance with multilateral treaties relating to HMS
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Issues Unique to the Caribbean Region
Small, artisanal fisheries mostly in territorial waters Many fishermen sell their catch directly to restaurants or
individuals that are not Federally permitted dealers. Due to the expense of limited access permits, many Caribbean
fishermen cannot afford to enter commercial fisheries for SWO or SHK.
If fishermen do not have Federal permits, they do not have to report to NMFS, and NMFS does not receive data on catch amount or catch composition in the Caribbean region.
Fish aggregation devices (FADs) are being used in the Caribbean region to target pelagics. The effect of FADs on pelagic stocks is not well understood.
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Caribbean Specific Amendment
NMFS conducted scoping for this amendment; the issues raised during scoping included: Vessel Permitting Dealer Permitting Commercial Reporting Recreational Reporting Authorized Gear
Comment period closed on October 31, 2008
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Scoping: U.S. Virgin Islands
Concern about increasing fishing effort with a new Federal fishing permit; territorial permits under moratorium for 8 years
St. Croix has a small scale BAYS tuna fishery; St. Thomas fishermen mostly target shelf/reef fish (very little HMS)
Few fish dealers currently authorized to purchase HMS Fishermen want the ability to continue to use free-floating
handlines to target BAYS tunas Fishermen “multi-fish” and request the ability to possess
HMS while non-authorized gears are onboard their vessels FADs were deployed off St. Croix to reduce effort on the
shelf resources – local fishermen depend on them for tunas and other pelagics
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Scoping: Puerto Rico
Interest in a Caribbean handgear permit that authorizes fishing AND sales of HMS
Few fish dealers currently authorized to purchase HMS Interest in using unattached handlines to target swordfish
should a market develop in the region NMFS should use the Puerto Rico trip ticket program
(already in Spanish); request modification of the trip ticket to gather more species specific information for HMS
Any logbooks or additional reporting would need to be extremely simple and available in English and Spanish
NMFS should increase outreach and emphasize the need for timely and accurate reporting; outreach materials need to be available in both English and Spanish
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Scoping: Puerto Rico Continued
Requests for shark identification workshops in the region No FADs are currently deployed off Puerto Rico
Recreational fishermen are interested in using FADs Commercial fishermen would want FADs restricted to
commercial use only NMFS should request that Puerto Rico issue a territorial
shark and pelagics permit to help track territorial shark landings
NMFS should request that Puerto Rico deny vessel registration renewals if vessel owners have unresolved fishing violations
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Current and Future Steps
NMFS is currently working on an outreach document to help inform fishermen about the importance of reporting their catch to NMFS and their participation in HMS fisheries. This will be available in both English and Spanish.
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Current and Future Steps
NMFS is also working on identification guides to help fishermen accurately identify Atlantic swordfish, billfish, tunas, and sharks. These will also be available in English and Spanish.
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Current and Future Steps (cont.)
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Current and Future Steps (cont.)
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Current and Future Steps (cont.)
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Current and Future Steps (cont.)
NMFS is also working with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Puerto Rico and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) in the U.S. Virgin Islands to modify the territorial trip tickets and catch cards to gather more HMS species-specific information
NMFS, in conjunction with DNR, DPNR, and the Southeast Fisheries Science Center, is working on a collaborative effort to improve data collection in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands so that these data can be more effectively used in future stock assessments
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Tentative Timeline
Scoping: Summer/Fall 2008
Outreach Documents: Spring 2009
Predraft: Summer 2009
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Proposed Rule: Summer 2010, 60 day comment period
Final EIS: Winter 2010/2011, 30 day comment period
Final Rule: Early 2011, 30 days until effective
